Dutch parliament votes to ban burqas, niqabs in some public places
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) – The Dutch Parliament’s lower house voted on Tuesday to ban the wearing of face-covering clothes – such as burqas and niqabs – in some public places, making the Netherlands the latest European country to restrict garments worn by s…
Germany’s Schaeuble offers strong backing for Renzi in referendum
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble praised Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Tuesday for his efforts to reform his country and expressed hope that he would continue to play an important role in Italian politics even if h…
Gambia’s Jammeh faces rare challenge in December 1 poll after 22-years rule
BANJUL (Reuters) – Gambian President Yahya Jammeh will face a rare challenge from a revitalized and united opposition in an election on Thursday as he seeks to extend his 22-year grip on power in the tiny West African nation.
Schaeuble praises Fillon, says hopes Le Pen never becomes French president
BERLIN (Reuters) – German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble praised the economic program of French presidential contender Francois Fillon and said he hoped the conservative candidate’s far-right rival Marine Le Pen would never become president.
Turkish PM says finalizing constitutional change to bolster Erdogan powers
ANKARA (Reuters) – Turkey’s ruling AK Party is finalizing plans to formally cement President Tayyip Erdogan’s powers by creation of an executive presidency and will meet the nationalist opposition to iron out details, Prime Minister Binali Yildirim sai…
Before faithful crowd, Abbas opens delayed Palestinian party congress
RAMALLAH, West Bank (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas opened the first congress of his Fatah party for seven years on Tuesday, with 1,300 mostly elderly delegates gathered to elect new leaders and discuss longer-term policy, including how…
U.N. humanitarian chief says 16,000 displaced in Syria’s Aleppo
BEIRUT (Reuters) – Up to 16,000 people have been displaced in Syria’s Aleppo by intense attacks on the rebel-held eastern part of the city, the United Nations humanitarian chief and relief coordinator Stephen O’Brien said on Tuesday, citing initial rep…
Senior Chinese official calls for Hong Kong to oppose independence
BEIJING (Reuters) – China’s government hopes Hong Kong will oppose independence, a top Communist Party official said on Tuesday in a meeting with a pro-Beijing group from the southern financial hub.
UK holds dialogue with leaders, no Brexit pre-negotiation: May’s spokesman
LONDON (Reuters) – Britain cannot begin negotiations with the European Union until it has triggered the formal exit procedure but it can have discussions with the leaders, a spokesman for Prime Minister Theresa May said on Tuesday.
Giant arch slides over Chernobyl site to block radiation for a century
CHERNOBYL, Ukraine (Reuters) – In the middle of a vast exclusion zone in northern Ukraine, the world’s largest land-based moving structure has been slid over the Chernobyl nuclear disaster site to prevent deadly radiation spewing from the stricken reac…
